Aston Villa's Europa League first-leg victory has pleased manager Unai Emery.

In the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, Aston Villa defeated Bologna 3-1 away, gaining an advantage in the two-legged tie for qualification.

After the match, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed his high praise for the result, saying that the team had taken home a dream victory.

Despite the resounding away victory, Emery had a clear understanding of the game's progress. He admitted that the team's performance in Italy was not at its best, especially struggling slightly in the first half.

“We didn’t play very well in the first half, but fortunately we got a good result,” Emery said. “And in the second half, we played an outstanding 30 minutes, successfully suppressing our very threatening opponents.”

In addition, Emery specifically thanked the 2,500 Aston Villa fans who traveled to the away game. He stated that the fans' unwavering support was a huge motivation for the team, and that the team had a responsibility to repay their loyalty with victory.

Returning to Villa Park with a two-goal lead, Emery remained vigilant. He warned the team that the knockout stage was far from over. Bologna was a very competitive team, and they would not surrender easily.

Looking ahead to the second leg, Emery emphasized the importance of home advantage: "Now, our focus will shift to the second leg at Villa Park."

"We need the full support and cheers of our home fans. Even with a 3-1 lead, we must still have enough respect for our opponents and do our best to play the next 90 minutes."

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website